Charlie Chan is a fictional character created by Earl Derr Biggers. Biggers loosely based Chan on
Honolulu, Hawaii detective Chang Apana, and conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril
stereotypes and villains like Fu Manchu. Chan is a detective for the Honolulu police, though many stories feature Chan traveling
the world as he investigates mysteries and solves crimes. Chan first appeared in Biggers' novels, then was featured in a number
of media. Over four dozen films featuring Charlie Chan were made, beginning in 1926. The character was first portrayed by East
Asian actors, and the films met with little success. In 1931, the Fox Film Corporation cast Swedish actor Warner Oland as Chan
in Charlie Chan Carries On; the film became popular, and Fox went on to produce fifteen more Chan films with Oland in the title
role. After Oland's death, American actor Sidney Toler was cast as Chan; Toler made twenty-two Chan films, first for Fox and then
for Monogram Studios. After Toler's death, six films were made, starring Roland Winters. Readers and movie-goers of white America
greeted Chan warmly, seeing him as an attractive character who is portrayed as intelligent, heroic, benevolent and honorable in
contrast to the racist depictions of evil or conniving Asians which dominated Hollywood and national media. However, in later decades
critics took contending views, finding that Chan, despite his good qualities, reinforces condescending Asian stereotypes such as an
alleged incapacity to speak idiomatic English and a tradition-bound and subservient nature. Many found it objectionable that he was
played on screen by Caucasian actors in yellowface. Film adaptations in the 1990s have been poorly received. The character has been
featured in several radio programs, two television shows, and comics.
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